Guys are really tough to shop for. And by “tough,” I generally mean “boring.” So much more fun to snag a girlfriend a fun pair of fur mittens (PSSSST, I want these in the “beige” color) than to check out the latest and greatest in khakis.
I kid.
There are SOME things that are semi-enjoyable to buy pour les hommes. I tend to buy my brother clothing (carryover from when he never ever ever bought himself clothing and it was more a matter of necessity), my father books, my father-in-law cooking/food/kitchen-related surprises, and Mr. Magpie some combination of the above. Below, some things worth considering for your men this Christmas:
For the discerning coffee drinker: I have to admit, this pour-over contraption is pretty gorgeous ($179). Consider throwing in some good beans (Intelligentsia is a Chicago favorite; coffee aficionados lose their minds over Blue Bottle. Serrrrriously.) But make sure you have a decent burr grinder to grind dem beans…apparently standard grinders can “burn” the beans in some way, making them bitter. We have a Capresso.
If this seems a little too much of an investment for what may be a trend in coffee-making (what’s next?? I’m sure some hipster somewhere is concocting some new ultimate way of enjoying coffee), the SweetHome blog recommends this $20 Kalita glass situation. Make sure you buy the filters, too.
For the guy who lives on the links: These Footjoy golf shoes ($99-$280, depending on color) have such a cool design, I gotta say.
For the fashion-forward: I mentioned that velvet is back in for women a few weeks ago. (So are clogs. FYI. Let that sink in for a few weeks and then we’ll talk.) Same goes for men. How RAD would a navy velvet blazer be for holiday soirees? My top pick is this Ralph Lauren style ($795) — SHARP! — but J. Crew has a shawl collar variation available for $328, plus whatever discount they’re offering at the moment.
A few Christmases ago, I snagged Mr. Magpie a pair of Stubbs + Woott
on tuxedo slippers, and they’ve been a huge hit on the wedding circuit the past few years. Such a fun way to personalize your look. He gets tons of compliments, too. I love these black watch tartan ones ($495) and these “undecided political” ones ($495).
A girlfriend of mine recently asked for help picking out a weekender for her husband — she went with a Filson ($345), a classic pick. Come to think of it, a few girlfriends of mine have gifted their men Filsons over the past few years. If you’re willing to break the bank, I also think these J.W. Hulmes ($1,245) in leather are stunning — and you can have them embossed with initials!
Last season, I bought Mr. Magpie this fair-isle sweater (Polo, $299), and it is so smart-looking. He layers it over gingham shirts for an interesting pattern contrast, or a classic white oxford. Looks fab with corduroys. Does your dude wear cords? If not, he’s missing out. They look adorbs.
Finally, I can’t recommend enough these waffle-knit robes ($129). It’s the kind of thing Mr. Magpie claimed he did not want/need. But now he can’t live without his. That and his slippers. I’m wondering if I can also convert him into a pajama-wearer with the gift of some tartan jams ($90)? (He’s currently more of a t-shirt and boxers kind of dude.)
For the techie: Mr. Magpie loves (loves loves loves) new technology. He reads tech publications like Gizmag for fun, and you should hear him talk about the automated home. It’s amazing/hilarious. He’s *in love* with our Sonos speaker system, which is integrated throughout our house (including on our roof!) and controlled by an app. It’s awesome — you can play Pandora through it or set up your own playlist from your iPhone or laptop. You can get a starter kit for $350 or invest in a whole home-wide system for a mah-jor Christmas surprise.
If he gets jazzed up like Mr. Mags about the automated home, check out the Canary home security system ($199) or Nest’s smoke/carbon monoxide detector ($99).
Apple just released a new version of its AppleTV ($149). We love ours. We are embarrassed (?) to say that we have one both in our basement and in our bedroom. These portable WiFi hotspots from Karma ($129) would also be a fun little treat for a frequent traveler.
And there’s also the Apple Watch ($349+).
P.S. — A nice little addition would be these scented tech wipes ($6).
The Outdoorsman:
+You can’t beat a classic Patagonia fleece ($99). Or, for rainy weather — I mentioned this awhile back — my entire family (literally, all 7 of us plus significant others) picked up the Marmot PreCip ($100) while we were in Aspen over the summer. Mr. Magpie bought the red.
+I got my brother a cool vintage-looking pocket knife a few years ago ($42) and he says he carries it with him all the time.
+And — OK, I’d pick this up as a gag — but apparently this Norwegian book ($17) on chopping and stacking wood is a best-seller?!
+These blankets (Rumpl, $65) are made of the same stuff that goes into sleeping bags and puffy coats, and are super masculine with a cool design aesthetic.
+These contoured maps ($158+) are so cool.
+New Nikes ($60) are a good excuse to get outside.
Stocking Stuffers:
+I buy Mr. Magpie Molton Brown shower gel — lots of great, masculine scents. The tobacco scent ($30) is new this season, and it’s a must.
+Coasters that reflect his geographical identity ($32) are a fun addition.
+I’m all about books — just recently got this baseball-centric one (The Art of Fielding, $9) for Mr. Magpie on the recommendation of a friend.
+Love these camp-style enamel mugs ($32).
+These pencils ($22 for 12) are supposed to be awesome. I read about them on a blog. I don’t know who uses pencils anymore, but if your guy is a pencil lover…
+The classic ($7.50). Chapped lips no more.
If your man is a hothead (aka, lover of hot sauce), check out this sriracha powder I snagged at a local spicery (is that a word?) in Chicago, The Spice House. It is BOMB. We put it on popcorn. I think it’d also be good mixed into my next batch of homemade chex mix…
WOW thank you so much for doing this!! These are awesome ideas, and I’ve already put a few of them in my cart for the hard-to-shop-for men in my life!!
LOVE! Tell me what you end up scoring!!!